Hunger, The Hunger Games, And Ahnalin

Ahnalin loves to read.

She loves to go to the library.

Every Thursday, we go to the library

to check out books and read to dogs.

A wonderful, local organization trains support dogs

and brings the dogs to the library so the children

can read to them. 

Almost every time we visit the library,

there is at least one homeless person near the door.

We talk to them.

I don't always have money to share,

but we always talk to them. 

Today, before we left for the library,

Ahnalin asked if she could take an extra apple

and cheese stick.

I said yes, but asked why.

She said, "Mama, every time we go,

we always see hungry people asking for food.

We don't always have money to give them,

but I want to have some food to give."

I got a little teary,  but I agreed.

 

We didn't see anyone waiting outside the library 

as we went in.

But Ahnalin asked me to hold the food

while she read to the dogs,

because she wanted to make sure we had it 

on the way out. 

So while she read,

I smocked.

And the food was sitting on the table

next to me. 

A woman stood near the table.
 

She was talking to a young teen about "The Hunger Games"

movie and book series.

She turned to me and asked if I had seen the movie,

or read the books.

I said no, as they are really not my style.

She explained that she felt they were important

books for young adults and parents to read.

She felt that they were helpful

so that readers could think for themselves

how they would live in a "dystopian society".

She spoke of the need to have firm beliefs

in the event of famine and corrupt society.

She spoke of the absence of moral absolutes.

She told me that she is the mother of teenagers

and felt her children learned a great deal

about themselves from the books.

Ok. 

She then spied the apple and cheese stick.

She asked about them, as eating is not allowed

in the library.

I explained about Ahnalin

wanting to have them to give to a hungry person.

I told her that Ahnalin knew we often

give money to people in need,

but didn't always have it.

But she wanted to be prepared 

with food if we encountered someone today. 

She looked uncomfortable.

She told me that she felt it was not a good idea.

She told me that she made a point of never

carrying cash so that she could honestly

say she didn't have any if a homeless person

asked for money. 

Because then she wouldn't be lying. 

She didn't think I should allow Ahnalin to give

food (or money) to the people on the street.

She felt that "They were better served 

by agencies."

I was shocked!

I said that she was just telling

me of the important lessons of 

"The Hunger Games"

and this was an important lesson.

She said it was different. 

Wow.

Ahnalin heard none of this, 

as she was happily reading to the dogs.

You see, this is personal to Ahnalin.

Even though she is very well fed and healthy now,

I know that her soul remembers hunger.

For months after we brought her home

from China, she would pry my mouth 

open and take food out of it to stuff

in her own mouth.

It didn't matter how much we fed her,

she could never seem to be full.

She was terrified of being hungry

and alone. 

Ahnalin has her R.A.D. moments,

but her heart hurts for those in need.

Anyway, 

after she was finished reading to the dogs,

she came over and picked up the food,

along with her library books.

As we checked out the books,

she looked out the window

to see if there was anyone outside waiting. 

There was no one waiting today.

Once we got into the van,

she told me that she was sad because she 

wanted to give the food to a hungry person.

As we rounded the corner, 

she spied a young woman with a sign.

"HUNGRY AND HOMELESS"

Ahnalin yelled
"MAMA!! PULL OVER!! THAT'S HER!"

We had never seen this particular girl before,

but she was hungry. 

Ahnalin rolled down the window 

and handed her the food.

The girl smiled and said

"God Bless You Little One."

Ahnalin said "God bless you too."

As we drove away, 

Ahnalin said 

"Feeding hungry people makes my heart happy!"

Then she said,

"Mama, are you crying AGAIN?" 

I said "Yes, but it is happy crying."

I am grateful that my little one is listening 

to what Jesus tells us to do.

I am grateful that she gives out of her heart

instead of holding back in fear.

I still haven't read
"The Hunger Games".

I may or may not. 
(I prefer my Jane Austen,
Anne of Green Gables, and other
girly goodies.)

But I hope my children are learning

the important lessons of how to treat others.

Matthew 25:35, 40

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and you invited me in....... 
..............The King will reply,
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did
for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me."

A Rosy Easter Dress For Naya

 I just love this little dress!

And it will soon be worn by a lovely little lady

named Naya.

Her mama pinned the Darla rose 

fabric by Tanya Whelan to her Pinterest 

board and asked if I could make her daughter 

a dress with it.

I found about 2/3 of a yard in my stash!

Oh my was I thrilled!

I haven't seen this fabric available 

for purchase for quite some time.

And I had about the same amount of 

the green dot print too!

Thankfully, the lovely lady 

only wears a size 2.

So I was able to create 

this confection just for her!

I wish I had another bolt

of each of these beautiful fabrics.

But I am so happy that 

this little frock is on

its way across the country 

to its darling girl.

More Easter dresses to come!

Happy Sewing!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

AHNALIN LOVES BOOKS!

And she REALLY loves Dr. Seuss books!

So she wanted to have a special outfit

to wear on his birthday.

Isn't the fabric darling?

I ordered it from

Cotton Blossom Farm on Etsy

last year and I just love it.

I used McCalls M6132 for the top.

McCalls 6312

While I will probably use this pattern again,

I have to say that it runs HUGE!

I mean HUGE!!

Also, there are some steps in the directions

that are just really dumb.

It has the sewist leaving a lot of exposed

seams and raw edges.

And that never works for my 

sensory-disordered kid,

or for perfectionist me.

So, I rebuilt the bodice to enclose

the waist seam in the bodice lining.

I also added the contrast

band on the skirt so I could highlight another 

fun fabric.

The photo is blurry,

but it shows the buttons

on the cute back of the bodice.

Instead of the full capri

pants shown on the pattern,

Ahnalin requested leggings

made from ruffle fabric.

I purchased the ruffle fabric last year 

from Sewzannes Fabrics

and followed the tutorial

on No Big Dill blog .

Ahnalin loves these leggings 

because I made them super skinny.

They are even but she was tired

of me fussing over her.

So I just took the picture!

The shoes!
OH MY!!

I found them last week at Target!

Yes, she was spinning in the library!

We visit every Thursday so she can read

to the dogs.

She loves cuddling Brittney the dog.

Brittney is one of the dogs

in training for the PALS program,

Paws As Loving Support.

And the earrings?

Grandma Barbara Jean brought them 

to Ahnalin when she came to visit.

They are clip-on earrings,

but oh so "Seussical!"

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Thank you for writing such 

wonderful books.

Happy Sewing!

Winner!

I am sorry this is so late! 

I tried to make the random . org widget 

show up but I can't get it to show up.

So.............

 Without further ado..........

The winner of the

book, needle book and floss 

is 

RUTH!

Ah, Sivje, so many blessings this year, and you want just one?! :) Okay, one major blessing this year was when my husband bought me a new-to-me oboe. And I'm taking lessons. Huge blessing.

Praying now for your migraines. I can relate.

Also, I have been a long-time follower or yours with google reader, but I just now did the follower-thingy on your blogsite.

So Ruth, I need your address so I can

pop this bunch of goodies in the mail to you!!!

Thank you all for the migraine prayers.

I am starting to feel better.

Now, if only I could get my photos to load

so I could show some pretty pictures!

Happy Sewing!

Sivje

My Belated Blogaversary - A Giveaway!

So, I am here. 

Really, I am.

But I have been battling stupid migraines

for a few weeks.

And I have sewn very little.

And the orange chair,

well it is still unfinished.

And yesterday was my 

third Blogaversay!!!!!

So, by way of apology for my rude absence,

I decided to have a giveaway

of some of my favorite things!

Last year, I got to meet Bari J

at a book signing event for this book.

I had forgotten that I had already pre-ordered her

book from Amazon.

So in my excitement to meet her,

I bought another one so she could autograph it for me!

I was soooooo excited to meet her!

And this book is wonderful!

So wonderful that I decided to 

give away my extra copy

(not the autographed one, sorry.)

to one of you!

In addition,

I will include 

this darling Mary Engelbreit

needle card with 25 needles and a threader

and 6 skeins of bright DMC embroidery floss.

I adore all things M.E.

and thought it was about

time I shared.

So, how do you enter?

Well, how about you tell me one

way in which you have been blessed this year.

And if you want another entry,

tell me if you are a follower of this blog,

or become a follower and then tell me.

If you are a "no-reply blogger"

then leave me an email address so I can contact the winner.

I will post the winner on Valentines Day!

And I hope to have more done on the orange chair

by that time too!

And if you have a prayer to spare,

please pray that my migraine lets up

 soon.

Thanks a bunch!

Happy Sewing and Good Luck!

(Please forgive the goofy pictures. 

These are from my phone

and I can't find the camera.)

Sivje

Yellow Chair Slipcover Part 2

So I finally had a few minutes to get back

to my chair slipcover project.

I am struggling with how these

photos are showing up, 

but I suppose that is what happens with

an orange chair and a yellow tape measure.

I thought long and hard

about how I wanted to make this slipcover.

With an upholstered chair,

you often use a lot of pieces in order

to really mold and fit around the frame.

But with a slipcover, 

you can simplify the lines

and do larger pieces that just

smooth over the frame.

I decided to skip the front band piece

between the seat and skirt.

I like to start my slipcovers by making 

a "muslin". 

I know some people are brave

and can make the slipcover with the 

actual fabric and do a great job.

However, I prefer a fitted slipcover

 and I don't want to run the risk 

of wasting my fabric if I make a big mistake.

So I start with big rectangles of a muslin 

fabric that I can write on and cut to fit.

I use drapery lining fabric

because I have a lot left over from 

old window treatment projects.

But you can use regular muslin

or an old sheet,

or just some fabric you don't love.

I would use a fabric with the same 

amount of give that your slipcover fabric has

because you want to know how it will lay 

on the chair.

I center the rectangle on the seat and then start

tucking it in, all around.

Then I cut away the excess,

so that I can start to get the shape

of the seat to use as a pattern piece.

But I am careful to leave enough

to have a seam allowance.

This is the corner of the seat 

and covers that front band.

I will cut off that excess at the corner

so that it is fitted.

Once I got the seat piece cut the way I wanted it,

I put the rectangle of fabric on the back and

did the same thing.

So I start tucking and cutting

into the corners to get the shape.

Don't cut too deeply into the corners

because you are going to need 

seam allowances to sew.

Next, I pinned all along the curve
of the chair back.

This is important for this chair,
because if I cut it straight,
it would not fit properly.

I trimmed off the extra,
leaving a seam allowance of about 5/8".

I put my clear quilting ruler on the top
of the back of the chair,
so you can see how curved it is.

When I cut the piece that goes
on the top and sides
of the back, I will need to take this into account.

Next I pinned the next rectangle
over the arm and started
pinning the front curve.

The clear quilting ruler
is useful here too,
for showing the angle of the arm front.

Then I pinned the outside arm panel
to the inside arm panel,
which wrapped around the arm.

I left enough seam allowance to pin
the arm pieces together.

Then I pinned another piece
to the front of the arm,
pinning all along the curve.

Following the curve of the arm,
I trimmed off the excess ,
leaving a seam allowance.

I used a soft pencil to trace
the line of the piping underneath.

This is just a good way to mark the
shape of the chair on the pieces.


Ok, that is all I have for today.

More photos coming.

Happy Sewing!

Sivje

Another Yellow Chair Slipcover Project

I know I said I was working on my

sofa slipcover,

but the truth of the matter is

that I am procrastinating. 

You see, the sofa is a really big project.

And I need to make A LOT of piping

for the sofa slipcover.

Yeah, the sofa is that yellow

floral piece next to the

little orange slipper chair 

that I bought at Goodwill last year.

And while I like the orange,

it is stained, 

worn bare in places,

and goes with not
one thing in the house.

But, I bought the chair
because I love it!

And it was only $14.99.

It is short and small
and my feet touch the floor
when I sit in it!

And I went diving into my fabric stash
and found this beautiful linen floral.

I bought this years ago
when I was working as an interior
designer for Laura Ashley stores
here in the U.S.

And before they closed the stores,
I bought this linen and the matching
yellow corded welt.

But wait!

That fabric looks familiar!

Oh yeah.

It is the same fabric that my old
yellow floral sofa is covered in.

I knew I loved it!

Did I mention that I love yellow?

And it is rainy and gray outside,
so that means that I must create
my own sunshine.

So now it is time to sketch and measure
the chair.

 I know that people make slipcovers
all kinds of ways.

But I am very mathematical in my thinking,
so it helps me to sketch
and measure when I start
the project.

I will take photos of the process
as I go and post,
so you can see how I make slipcovers.


Happy sewing!

Sivje